Medicare+choice= Dose Of Confusion

If you're a senior citizen confounded by the booklet that hit your mailbox earlier this month on new Medicare programs, join the club.

"We've had a definite increase in calls since the books were issued," said Katie Travis, ananalyst with the Broward County Area Agency on Aging. "There's just a lot of confusion overall."

Senior Connection, the area agency-sponsored information hotline, has seen an upswing in Medicare-related calls since the Medicare+Choice pamphlets began arriving on Nov. 5, Travis said. There were so many that specially trained volunteers will be fielding calls on Medicare inquiries beginning next week.

The area agency also is joining with other organizations to hold a series of public education sessions on the programs, which extend the federal health insurance system beyond the previous two options: traditional Medicare or a health maintenance organization. The next seminar will be Thurday at Tamarac City Hall.

Hugo Huapaya, the regional coordinator for Medicare's Beneficiary Education and Outreach, will be one of the speakers. He will help beneficiaries swim through Medicare+Choice's alternatives.

Another thing Huapaya wants to do is ease anxiety. While he encourages seniors to learn as much as they can about the new options, they do not have to switch from their current coverage if they don't want to.

Open enrollment in the programs will run through Dec. 31, 2001, with other, more limited opportunities to sign up extending through 2003.

"So far, most of the people I talk to are just carrying through with what they have," Huapaya said.

Those still befuddled also can arrange to visit a SHINE counselor. There is no charge.

The Medicare+Choice education seminar will be 9:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Ave. The public is welcome. Seniors interested in contacting the SHINE Medicare counseling site nearest them should call Senior Connection at 954-714-3464.